Dog bite cases still being dealth with

By BOBBY WARRENStaff Writer Published: April 17, 2014 4:00 AM

WOOSTER -- It's been nine months, and the Wayne County Health Department and dog warden are still dealing with a case involving a dangerous, unregistered and unvaccinated dog. The case is expected to go to court in May.

The owner, Lori Stonecipher, 300 block of North Bever St., Wooster, was convicted in August and June by Municipal Court Judge Timothy R. VanSickle on minor misdemeanor charges related to her dog. The August conviction was for failure to confine or restrain the dog, and she was fined $150. In June, she was convicted of not requiring the dog to wear a tag.

The dog bit someone July 6, and three days later Stonecipher was ordered to quarantine the dog.

Because Stonecipher has not complied with orders from the Wayne County Health Department and dog warden to vaccinate and license the dog, the matter was sent to the Prosecutor's Office. An arraignment was scheduled earlier this month, but Stonecipher did not appear, which led to the issuance of a warrant for her arrest.

Vaughn Anderson, director of the Environmental Health Division of the Wayne County Health Department, and Dog Warden Stuart Mykrantz also are dealing with another rabies/vaccination case.

[Article continues below]

Shane Pozworkski, 13600 block of Kaufman Avenue, Sterling, has a dog that was involved in a bite incident in September.

Anderson said both dogs are still alive, so they have been ruled out for having rabies. However, state law does not allow him to clear these cases if there are no certificates of good health from a veterinarian, and the dogs do not have current rabies vaccinations.

Because the owners have not complied with the law and regulations, both dogs have been designated as dangerous dogs.

"The situation has been problematic for multiple agencies," Mykrantz said. "It's great that the different organizations are working together handling different aspects of the cases. It's all for the safety of the public."

Assistant Prosecutor Andrea Uhl continues to work on the Pozworkski case, and Anderson has been issued a subpoena to appear in court for the Stonecipher case in May.

Reporter Bobby Warren can be reached at 330-287-1639 or bwarren@the-daily-record.com. He is @BobbyWarrenTDR on Twitter.